Toothpick



E. DZIUK. 4 TOOTHPlCK.

APPLICATION FILED lAN.23(, 1920.

1,355,037. Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

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EDMOND DZIUK, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO.

TOOTI-IPIGK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

Application filed January 23, 1920. Serial No. 353,554.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMOND DZIUK, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Toothpicks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is the provision of a simple, compact and eiiicient metallic tooth pick, and one that may be expeditiously and easily produced at a low cost.

To the attainment of the foregoing, the invention consists in the improvement as hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, hereby made a part hereof:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my novel tooth pick as the same appears when ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the tooth pick with the blade and a portion of the blade shank sheathed in the handle.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the blade and the blade shank separated.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken in the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view showing one edge of the blade and the shank thereof.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the other edge of the blade and the shank.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

I contemplate in practice forming the blade 1 of my novel tooth pick of the material, spring steel, from which the main spring of watches are produced, the said material belng advantageous because it lends itself to the ready production of blades of various widths and thicknesses, all of which will be possessed of a high degree of resiliency and will be well adapted to withstand for an indefinite period the usage to which tooth picks are ordinarily subjected. At its forward end the blade 1 is pointed, as indicated by 2.

The heel portion of the blade 1 is permanently secured in a metallic shank 3, and the said shank 3 is adapted to be socketed in a metallic handle 4; the said handle 4 being closed at one end and open at its opposite end, and being flattened as illustrated. The shank 3, because of its inexpensiveness and efliciency constitutes an important feature of my invention. The said shank 3 is formed of a single piece of sheet-metal and is provided on its outer side and at an intermediate point of its length with a rib 5. In assembling the parts, the piece of sheetmetal is bent upon itself upon the rear portion of the blade 1, and in order to additionally secure the blade 1 in the shank 3 and permanently fix the former to the latter, solder 6 is interposed between the lapped portions of the shank. I

My novel tooth pick is adapted to be used in the ordinary well known manner, at which time the handle 4 and the shank 3, arranged as shown in Fig. 1, will enable the user to dexterously manipulate the blade. After use of the tooth pick, the shank 3 is removed from the handle 4, and the blade 1 and the inner portion of the shank are sheathed in the handle, so that the blade will be protected against injury and contamination of the blade will be averted.

Manifestly the tooth pick with the parts arranged as shown in Fig. 2 may be conveniently carried in the pocket of the user. It will also be appreciated that the rib 5 on the shank 3 will serve, by bringing up against the open end of the handle 4, to prevent contact between the point of the blade 1 and the closed end of the handle.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, 1s:

A toothpick comprising a thin and flat resilient metallic blade, and a sheet-metal shank strip longitudinally straddling and aflixed to the heel portion of the blade at opposite sides thereof and adapted to be sheathed in the end of a hollow handle; said shank being provided on its outer side at an intermediate point of its length. with a transverse rib.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDMOND DZIUK. 

